Disappearing wall cabinet board



NVENTOR.

L.., R. YOUNG x DIsA-PP'EARING WALL CABINET BOARD Filed July 3, 1935Patented Jan. 1s, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,106,044DrsAPPEARING WALL CABINET BOARD Lawrence Romaine Young, Seattle, Wash.

Application July 3, 1935, Serial No. 29,628

2 Claims.

This invention relates to disappearing wall boards or tables andcabinets for the same and the primary object of this invention is toprovide a disappearing wall board or table and v cabinet therefor whichare adapted for installation in a wall of ordinary thickness, and inwhich provision is made for inserting or withdrawing a relatively longboard or table through' a relatively short opening or doorway in thewall, which opening or doorway is positioned at the upper portion of thecabinet.

The invention is shown and described in this application as embodied ina disappearing or wall type ironing board, but said invention is alsoapplicable to wall tables or to any other article or piece of furniturecapable of disappearing within a wall space of relatively shallow depth.

Another object of this invention is to provide a disappearing wall boardor table which drops down when it is folded into a vertical positionWithin a cabinet and raises up when it is withdrawn from the cabinet andextended into a substantially horizontal position for use, thuseconomizing on vertical space and eiecting a substantial saving in thecost of doors and casings required for the doorway which affords accessto the cabinet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wall board or tablewhich is simple and strong in construction, reliable and eicient inoperation and not expensive to manufacture.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide, in connectionwith a wall or disappearing ironing board, a sleeve board of very simpleand eiicient construction.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent fromthe following descrip'- tion taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevation of anvironing boardcabinet and ironing board constructed in accordance with this inventionas the Same may appear before installation in al Wall, theironing boardbeing shown in an upright position as it may appear when folded into thecabinet.

Fig. '2 is a vertical mid-section of the same, showing the cabinet in awall, kfragments only of the wall being shown and the board being in afolded position within the cabinet.

Fig. 3 is a vertical mid-section similar to Fig. 2, showing anintermediate position through which the ironing board must pass as it isbeing inserted into or withdrawn from the cabinet.

Fig. 4 is a vertical mid section similar to Figs.

2 and 3 except that it shows the ironing board and sleeve'board bothextended for use, parts of the ironing board and sleeve board andcabinet being broken away.

Fig. 5 isa cross section on broken line 5-5 of Fig. 1. A

Fig. 6 is a detached 'fragmentary plan view of the base end portion :ofva sleeve board embodied in the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a front cross piece for thecabinetsaid-cross piece being dovetailed into the cabinet sides.

Fig. 8 is. a fragmentary sectional view, with parts in elevation ofavertically adjustable ironing board.

The drawing shows an ironing board .|10 pro-- vided near `its inner end'portion with a Arigidly attached cross piece II. The cross'piece I-I hascylindrical pins lor studs I2 projecting `outwardli7 from the endsthereof. Said pins I2 project beyond the edges of the board II), Fig. 5.

The cabinet for the ironing board III-comprises two upright side membersI3 and I4 rigidly connected at their 'upper ends by a cross piece I5.Anothercross piecel I9 is rigidly secured to the cross piece I5 andfacilitates securing the upper end portion? `ofi-a -cabinet to a wall.The lower end portion ofy the side members I3 and I4 may be secured to afloor plate I6 at the time the board and cabinet are installed in avbuilding, the plate I 6 being a standard part of the ordinary framebuilding and being positioned substantially at the floor level.

Two strong cross pieces I1 and I8 are rigidly secured tothe side membersI3 and Iliintermediate the length of the cabinet, preferably nearer tothe top than to the bottom of said cabinet. Cross piece I1 extendsacross the front of the side members I3 and I4 and the cross piece I8extends horizontally across the cabinet at the rear of said side membersI3 and I4; The edges of the side members I3 and I4 are notched for thereception of both'of the cross pieces I'I and I8, thus providing a verystrong and rigid construction which will resist the lever action of theboard I0 in' vertical; directions,y as hereinafter explained. For anordinary ironing board or table, the heighth of the upper edge of thefront cross piece II above the floor plate will usually be aboutthirty-five inches. The rear cross piece I8 is positioned slightlyhigher than the cross piece I1, the plane of the lower edge oi the rearcross piece I8 being a distance substantially equal to the thickness-ofthe board I0 above the plane oi the top edge of the front cross pieceI1.

The upper portions of the side members I3 and I4, from the front crosspiece I 'I to the upper ends thereof, are wider than the lower portionsf said side members. This difference in width is approximately threequarters of an inch. This provides room for lath and plaster 20, orequivalent interior wall material, which extends across and covers thatportion of the cabinet below the front cross piece I1 after the cabinetis completely installed. Above the front cross p1ece I'I, the plaster orsimilar interior wall part may be iiush with the front edges of the sidemembers I3 and I4. The opening which is left above' the cross piece I`Iforms a relatively short doorway of substantially shorter length thanthe cabinet at the upper portion of the cabinet. The usual casing ZI maybe provided around the doorway which is formed above said cross piece IIand a door 22 may be provided for closing said doorway. In Fig. 2 thisdoor is shown in a closed position and is cross sectioned. In Figs. 3and 4 said door is shown in an open position and is partly broken away.

The inner sides of theside members I3 and I4, below the rear cross pieceI8, are provided with upright grooves 23 and 24 which serve as trackwaysfor the reception of the pins I2 on the ends of the cross piece II ofthe board I0. In the drawing I show these grooves 23 and 24 as extendingfrom the lower ends of the side members I3 and I4 upwardly toapproximately the levely of the bottom edge of the rear cross piece I8.Obviously, for a Ashorter board or table, these grooves would not needto Vextend entirely to the bottom of the side pieces I3 and i4.

`For ironing boards and cabinets, made for installation in the wall ofan ordinaryframe house where commercial 2 X 4 inch studding is used, Ifind that an` opening of twenty ve inches height between the Vfrontcross piece I'I and the top piece I5 is ample to provide for insertingand drawing out a board I0 which is from threefourths -of an inch to oneinch in actual thickness.

The board and cabinet will ordinarily be installed at the time abuilding is constructed and before the plastering is done. The cabinetof an ironing board is narrow enough so that the side frame members I3and I4 will i'lt between upright frame members or studding which arespaced apart the distance ordinarily used in wood frame buildingconstruction. A thin back member 25, as of cardboard or any other thinmaterial, may be provided on the back of the cabinet if desired, or theback of the cabinet may be left open, as the outside wall 29 of thebuilding will 'form a closure for the back of the cabinet whenthe'cabinet is installed.

An electrical outlet xture 26 is preferably provided in the top I5 ofthe cabinet for connection with the cord of an electric iron.

When the board I0 is not in use it may occupy a substantially verticalposition within the cabinet' substantially as shown in Figs. l and 2.When the board is to be withdrawn from the cabinet, said board isgrasped, preferably by'in'serting the fingers in a recess 21, and islifted upwardly and pulled outwardly at the same time. With the board II) positioned back of the front cross piece I'I and the pins I2 in thegrooves 23 and 24 the upper end of the board III may be moved outwardlyjust far enough to clear the casing ZI at the Lipper end of the doorway,as shown in Fig. 3. As the board I0 is raised beyond the position shownin Fig'. 3, the upper portion of said board may be swung outwardly anddownwardly until the board is brought to rest in the substantiallyhorizontal position shown in Fig. 4. When the board I0 is in thishorizontal position the rear end portion of said board is engagedbeneath the rear cross piece I8, the lower side of the board rests onthe front cross piece I'I, and the pins i2 prevent forward displacementof the board. 'Ihe board is thus very firmly and very securely supportedin the extended, or horizontal position. When the outer end portion ofthe board I is lifted up the inner end portion of said board will movedownwardly in the cabinet and the board may be quickly and easily foldedinto the cabinet.

I preferably provide a sleeve board 3!! .for use in connection with thisironing board. This sleeve board 39 is connected by hinges 3I with therear cross piece I8. The rear end portion of this sleeve board ispreferably slotted as better shown in Fig. 6, and the portion 32 which.is cut out in slotting said sleeve board is pivotally connected with thesleeve board by a transverse pivot 33. When the sleeve board 3) islowered into a horizontal position the portion 32 will drop down andform a short leg which rests on the ironing vboard and helps to supportthe sleeve board. When the sleeve board is raised into an uprightposition the leg portion 32 is positioned in the slot in the sleeveboard and is out of the way. The hinges 3| may provide enough frictionto ordinarily hold the sleeve board in elevated position or a suitablecatch or holding means for holding the sleeve board in an elevatedposition may beprovided.

This'cabinet and board are very simple and at the same time very strongand substantial in construction. No hardware, except the hinges for thesleeve board and cabinet door, is required where the board and cabinetare made of wood. Only a small door and a minimum amount of casing arerequired.

The features hereinbefore set forth provide a very inexpensive board andcabinet. They also provide a construction in which the length of theboard is much greater than the length of the doorway. For instance, I amable to provide a board fty-six inches long in a cabinet not exceedingsixty inches in length and to operate this board through a twenty-fiveinch doorway.

The board I0 is supported entirely by the cross pieces I'I and I8, whenit is extended, and has a considerable amount of resiliency due totheform of the support and to the natural resiliency of the board. Whenpressure is exerted on the board by'an iron in the hands of a user thisboard is resilient and yieldable to such pressure and the board springsback up, along with the iron, as the pressure on the iron is lessened.This resiliency is beneficial in helping to provide an even pressure onthe clothes which are being ironed or pressed. Also by supporting theboard entirely from one end I provide complete clearance underneath theboard facilitating the use of the board, especially f or tubulararticles which may be placed over the board.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a fragment of an ironing board cabinet having afront cross member I 'I' which is mortised into the side members of thecabinet by a dovetail joint 35. This more firmly anchors the front crossmember to the cabinet and helps to prevent said front cross member frombeing pried off by improper handling of the board in withdrawing andinserting the board.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a board and cabinet therefor in which meansare provided for supporting the board at diierent elevations toaccommodate taller or shorter persons or to provide a board suitable foruse either by pers-ons standing up or sitting down. In this disclosure36 is the side member of a cabinet, 31, 38, and 39 are three rear crosspieces positioned in spaced apart relation, one above another. 40, 4I,and 42 are notches provided in the front edges of the side member 36, atintervals one above another, and in proper relation with respect to therear cross members. An adjustable front cross piece is provided for usein any one of the three notches 40, 4|, and 42. This cross piece isdesignated by numeral 43 and it is removably secured'in the notch inwhich it is to be used. Releasable securing means, as screws 44 may beprovided for said cross piece. Groove means 23 is provided in the sidemember 36 for the reception of pin means l2 on a board I0. The groove 23is spaced far enough forwardly from the rear cross pieces 3l, 3B and 39to provide clearance for the board lil when said board I is in anupright position or is being extended or folded. Below the rear crosspieces the groove 23' is inclined or otherwise shaped so as to bringsaid groove closer to the rear of the cabinet at the lower end of saidcabinet. By positioning the cross piece 43 in different notches 40, 4|or 42 it is obvious that the board I0 may be operatively supported atdifferent elevations. In the construction shown in Fig. 8, the openingat the front of the cabinet will necessarily extend to a point below thelowermost notch 42. It will be understood that Fig. 8 shows only oneside piece 36 with the several notches and grooves therein and thatanother corresponding side piece will be provided at the other side ofthe cabinet.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 4 I have shown the side pieces of the cabinet belowthe front cross piece Il as made narrower to provide for the lath andplaster wall 20. However, for some uses, this may not be necessary andin Fig. 8 I have not so narrowed the side member 36.

While I have shown the cabinet and board' as made of wood, it will beunderstood that either or both of the same may be made of metal or ofany other material suitable for such purpose.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawing clearly disclose apreferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood thatthis disclosure is merely illustrative and that numerous changes may bemade within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a relatively shallow uprightwall cabinet adapted to be positioned within a wall between an outerwall member and an inner wall member, said cabinet having a doorway inits upper portion substantially shorter than said cabinet; adisappearing board member of substantially greater length than saiddoorway and less length` than said cabinet movable through said doorwayinto and out of said cabinet; a cross member secured to the under sideof said board adjacent the rear end portion of said board; two uprightside members for said cabinet; two oppositely faced vertical guide slotsin said side members adjacent the rear wall of the cabinet; a guide pinprotruding from each end of the cross member on the board into theadjacent guide slot, said guide pins guiding the lower end portion ofsaid board member for vertical movement in said cabinet; a horizontalfront cross piece rigidly connected with the front portion of saidcabinet at the location of the bottom edge of said doorway; and ahorizontal rear cross piece rigidly connected with the back portion ofsaid cabinet, the bottom of said rear cross piece being spaced above theplane of the top of said front cross piece a distance substantiallyequal to the thick-` ness of said board, said board being movablebetween said two cross pieces and said board resting on the front crosspiece and engaging beneath the rear cross piece when said board is in asubstantially horizontal extended position, said guide slots beingpositioned below said rear cross piece and extending from the plane ofthe bottom of said rear cross piece substantially to the bottom of thecabinet.

2. In wall cabinet means for installation between the outer and innerportions of a Wall, which outer and inner wall portions are spaced apartby standard two by four inch studding; a wall cabinet of shallow depthpositioned between said inner and outer wall portions, said wall cabinethaving Ia doorway in. its upper portion substantially shorter than saidcabinet; a disappearing board member of substantially greater lengththan said doorway and slightly less length than said cabinet movablethrough said doorway into and out of said cabinet; groove and pin meansguiding the lower end of said board member for vertical movement in saidcabinet; a horizontal front cross piece adjustably and rigidly connectedwith the front portion of said upright side members, said side membershaving notches at a plurality of elevations receiving said cross piece;and a plurality of horizontal rear cross pieces rigidly connected withthe rear portion of said uprightside members, the bottom of each of saidrear cross pieces being spaced above the plane occupied by the top ofsaid front cross piece for each location provided by said notches adistance equal to the thickness of said board, whereby the board willrest on the top of said front cross piece and engage below one of saidrear cross pieces for each vertical position of the board.

LAWRENCE ROMAINE YOUNG.

